Golf game



May 17, 1932. A. G. RANNEY GOLF GAME Filed June 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor By %22 I Allorney y 17, 1932 A. G. RA-NNEY 1,858,750

GOLF GAME Filed June 1'7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 2 i i v /fl g i i /7 i l 5 M lil g A9" A 4 2 9 i6 E M f i a A? I a o i q I By w v Altomey Patented May 17, 1932 esrsnr emce ALFRED e. RANNEY, or sAn ANTONIO, TEXAS eons GAME Application filed June 17,

- This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in game apparatus, andthe primary obj ect of the invention is to provide an improved game simulating a game of A golf.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a golf simulating game which may be played indoors on a table or any other like and suitable support, which will require a certain amount of skill on the participants of the game, while at thesame' time, .to provide a game of the character above mentioned which is comparatively simple in its manner of construction and method of play, and

"1.5 which may be enjoyed, and prove of interest to both young and old alike.

Broadly, the invention consists in the provision of'a golf simulating game embodying arbox or receptacle having a relatively fiat face provided with a plurality of depressions connected through the medium of tunnels, and each of the depressions being provided with an inclinedbottom whereby the depressicn is relatively deep at one end thereof, and relatively shallow at the opposite end thereof,

the relatively shallow ends of the depressions or recesses communicating with the relatively deep ends of adjacent recesses through the medium of the aforementioned tunnels, together with a ball or other suitable game piece to be moved over the bottom of the box by tilting the latter, the object of the game being the passage of the ball or game piece from one recess to the other in a predetermined successive order, and within a minimum amount of time. 7

Other objects and advantages of the in ention will become apparent during a study of the following description, taken in. connection with the accompanying drawings where- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved game.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional Y 16, leading to a relatively fiat bottom consti- 1930. Serial No. 461,772.

line 2-2 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional View, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of. 1 Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. '1. l

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig; 1. 7

With reference more in detail to t-he-drawings, it will be seen that my improved'game comprehends the "provision of a box-like, structure including a bottom or base 10 formed of any suitable material and preferably of elongated rectangular configuration.

, Secured to thesides and end edges of the base and forming the side and end walls for the boX is a strip of metal or any other suit-e5v at said upper edge is provided with an inturned flange 12 for retaining in suitable transparent cover plate 13.

The edges of the cover plate 13 are retained within the confines of the wall-formed by the strip 11 between the flange 12 and a suitable spacing strip 14 of felt or like material rest: ing between the cover 13 and base 10. 7. Provided in the base 10 are a plurality of recesses. There may be any desired number of such recesses, however, for the sake of example, I have shown nine of the same, each constituting the ",tee fairway and green embodied in the layout of a golf course, the recesses'being consecutively numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Broadly, each of the recesses at one end is relatively deep and at said deep end the bot tom of the recess is relatively flat to: constitute a tee 15, from the tee 15 the bottom of the recess gradually slopes upwardly and forwardly to provide an inclined fairway aspect, -..the; invention comprehends a... game embodying a plurality of recesses successively connected by tunnels whereby a moving object may pass SHCGQSSiBlyfCETOm*IIB 1 86888 to another through the tunnels communicating the recesses, together with the idearof gaining elevation by upsl opesenablingcthe moving object or game piece, which game piece is preferably (in the. nature of. a, hall, to be"holed out at the end: 0t the'recess, L. i-ndicating, as itwere, .the completion of one ,-hole duringa"round3 .ofigolf.

The recesses are all of any desired outline Joasha-pe, andot any- :lengthyitbeingnntended, that thewrecessesube of *variedshapesand Jlengths, no two 'ottherecesses-beingtidentical. I

In order twpresentpbstetcles to the [moving i fillnJfiIld 1 cxrenderesom'ewh'at. diflicult; the

placinga'olithei-balhin the holeslin successive order,.:thus enhancing a game. Lot {this icharmaeterathere-is provided-for each secesssuch obstacles, as for.ex.ample, traps,

canchthe like, 1simmlati;1g sueh 'ohstaclestas. are -=feund line andmconstituteza; part ofa a f golf .;.course.

V Themrrangement DfzI'SllGh' ftr aps lfhazwards; etc-,may-be as desired. a For example,

.xrecess his apmcticallyi-treeofi such; obstacles, upresentingglittle. on noidiificulty to :the pariitiieipantior'zFholingwouttorlin other words,

- ithe; depositing. of, the .balliB in ltheeholesof r recess 1. ;Thesame-is true of recess 2. .J-Iow- 5 ever, as is apparent,--.eachsuccessive recess 'beucomes'morediificult.

i In this-connection; ituwillivbe seen thatzre- 'icessi 3 is somewhatqinjthe nature: of a-dis- 'torted; U; rand-at"; one side? of: its tairway. -1 6 is pnovidedw'ith an elongateddepressionlflO azatithe thightp OI'tiOHOfithQJU, and on the other aside adjacentnsaid xbight with a relatively sshortndepressioni 21, zsaid :depressi-onsQW 21 .-';torn 1ing traps.

' sThQTQCQSS 3a-may be -furthenpro videdjust fifiorwardlyi-oflthe ;1.greens':."-1'('-n-witha :transmerse depression iondit ch :22.

Recess 4,.intermediate thewends thereot-is zfdilvidedi by; awwallfiil -.-havin an open en ded tube a 2% extending :therethrough vat: an inicli nelcorres pondirig .to:the. sl;ope of. the armrn-wa'yi. 16 1 providing aerestric-ted passage lead tion hazards '33 similar to hazardsi28. of req a c9blvim1sly,=' wall =1 23; provides a; istop for theirollingiballetopnevenbrollingofith ball tube, thus providing a hazard for deflecting the ball from its true course to the hole. Recess 5, is more or less L-shaped, and at the junction of the arms of the L provided with a projection or hazard 26 restricting .thewidth oftherecessat-this point. The side of the fairway opposite...the'hazard 18 inclines somewhat as clearly suggested in Fig. 5 so that obviously the ball striking against the --haza'r d -"26 is liable to roll up the inclined wall of the recess onto the top sur- *'''face of the base, thus requiring further ma- .lnipulation of the box or base for returning "the ball to'the recess 5, prior to the ball en- .-t-eri ngzthe next adjacent'recess'fi,ewhich'must be acctnnpl-ished-according" to1the ruleszofithe game,- isince. according to..the rules iota-he game, it is necessary. that ithe -.course-.-be;\eompleted only by the ball passing successieaely from .one recessxtoeanotherI-im"accord :with the numbering ofathe recesses,-tl1-atj,s,'.the ball must pass Y first from recess. 1! \into recess; ,2, and theninto recess 3 .andso-on; in-p'rderun- :til the ball haswbeen areturned -.to ;the--.starting or .recessl.

lj-On diametrically k op-posite sides otithe hole 18 I of recess- .5,-t-here:is further;- provided relatively: deep cavities '37 into --which 1 theball-may lo.dge-,=requiring further manipulation of the base.'10:to dislodgetlie ball-in an attempt to.rolltheloallLintovlfole-.:18 in a order to proceed tolthenext-recesslfi.

Recess 6 may-on opposite sides of. its fairway be provided with depressions. 27,..th at 2 are longitudinally :curvedait beingenotedith-at recess 6 -is-zsubstantiallycan.L. ...At 11118310? (ward ends-of vthe depressions,dort trapsIQ'l', are a pair of inwardly direeted extensions "28 terminating-in spaced: -rel.ationi.1at their inner ends to 'provide therebetween a narrow passage from the fairwayltothe green. LA relativelylsmallidepression or trap. may

be formed inrthe' fairwayd inactvanceofthe projection: hazards 28.

1 The recess 7 asshowu is somewhatlelon gated, being narrow. atone endand'graduaL I ly increasing .in width toward the. forward end. Adjacent the upper or raised portion of its bottom there maybe provided a concave depression or trap 30, between'which and thehole 18 is formed a transversedepres- .SlOIl or ditch 31.

In its-"arrangement of. hazards-etc, recess 8 issomewhat 'akin'to" recess- 6",ain that' it also includes depressions or 1traps 32 on opposite sides of the fairway together with obstruccess 6. V 1 :In recess 8,. the: narrow passage :formd be- ISO green tween theprojections 3333, leads. to a jump gap 34. As to 1tecess9, it will be noted that recessmay-be lined with any type of obstruction 35, such as may simulate trees, etc., narrowin the fairwayleading to the putting Obviously, the recesses need not be restricted totheir specific characteristics as herein shown and described somewhat in detail, but it is apparent that therecesses may be of .any desired width, length, shape, and that the traps, hazards, etc.', be rearranged as may be desired, to require utmost skill to direct the ball from one recess to the other, in the proper order and in a minimum amount of time.

To facilitate tipping the box or base to cause the rolling of the ball in such a manner as to complete the round, there is provided on the bottom of the base, at the center thereof, a ball-like member 36 for rockably supporting the base or box on a table or like support. Or in simpler form, for it is contemplated that the game apparatus may be made small in size and shape and of light material, the ball-like member 36 may be omitted and playing may be consumed by holding and tipping it While held in both hands.

The rules for playing the game are simple. The game may be played by one or more persons. The object of the game is to complete a round in a minimum amount of time, it being necessary that the ball pass from one recess to another in proper sequence. Each player is timed from his start at No. 1 hole, that is the hole of recess 1, and until he holes out at No. 9 green or the hole of recess 9. The player who requires the least time (minutes and seconds) to make a round wins.

From the foregoing then, it will be seen that I have devised a novel form of game simulating to a marked degree the game of golf, and at the time, while requiring a certain amount of skill is easy to understand and practice, and that this game affords amusement both to young and old alike.

It is thought that from the foregoing de scription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, a clear understanding of the operation, construction, and the man ner of operation of a game of this character will be had by those skilled in the art, without a more detailed description.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of my in.- vention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible to changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a game of the class described, an elongated rectangular base having one or more depressions formed therein, each depression being relatively deep at one end and relative"- ly shallow at its opposite end, the bottom of the depression at said ends being relatively flat-and having an intermediate portion sloping from the fiat bottom portion of the deep end upwardly to the flattened portion of the shallow end, tunnels formed in the base connecting said depression, said tunnels leading from the shallow end of the depressions to the deep end of the next adjacent depression, and a ball movable over the base.

2. In a game of the class described, a base having a plurality of depressions formed therein, each depression being relatively deep at one end and relatively shallow at its opposite end, and at its shallow end provided with a vertical hole, passages formed in the base connecting said depressions, said passages leading from the lower ends of the holes of the depressions to the deep ends of adjacent depressions whereby a ball may pass from one depression tothe next adjacent depression through a hole and passage communicating therewith, and a ball movable over the base.

3. In a game of the class described, a box including a bottom, walls rising from the bottom, and a transparent cover plate arranged within the-confines of the walls in spaced relation to thebottom to provide a closure for the box, said bottom provided with plurality of recesses, each of said reccsses having its bottom relatively fiat at the ends of the recesses, an intermediate portion of the bottom sloping from the flattened portion of the bottom at one end of the recess .to the flattened portion of the bottom "at the opposite endof the recess, the flattened portion of the bottom of the recess at the deepest end of the recess constituting a tee, the flattened portion of the bottom of the. shallow end of the recess constituting a green, and the inclined portion of the bottom of the recess constituting a fairway leading from the tee to the green, a ball movable over the bottom within said box, each of said recesses at the shallow end provided with a vertical hole constituting a cup for accommodating the. ball, passages connecting said recesses, there being one passage leading from the hole of one of saidrecesses to the relatively deep end of a next adjacent recess, whereby to provide a passage for conducting the ball from the hole of one recess to the tee of a next adjacent recess.

4. In a game of the class described, a box including a bottom, walls rising from thev bottom, a transparent cover plate arranged within the confines of the walls in spaced relation to the bottom to provide a closure for the box, said bottom provided with a plurality of recesses, each of said recesses having its'bottom relatively flat at the ends ofthe recesses, an'intermediate portion of the bottom sloping from the flattened portion of the bottom of the recess to the flattened portion of therbottom at the opposite end of the recess, the flattened portion of the bottom of the recess at the deepest end of the recess constituting a tee, the flattened portion of the bottom of the shallow end of the recess constituting a'green, and the inclined portion of the bottom of therecess constituting a fairway leading from the tee to the green, a ballmovable over the bottom within said box, each of said recesses at the shallow end provided with a vertical hole constituting a cup for accommodating the ball, passages connecting said recesses, there being one passage leading from the hole of one of said recesses to the relatively deep end of a next adjacent recess, whereby to provide a passage for conducting the ball from the hole of one recess to the tee of a next adjacent recess, and a member secured to the bottom of said box exteriorly of-the box to provide a support for rockably supportingthe box on a table or the like.

5. In a golf game of the class described, a base having a plurality of recesses formed therein, tunnels connecting said recesses, said tunnels leading from the end of one recess to the adjacent end of the next adjacent recess whereby said recesses and tunnels provide a tortuous ball conducting passage, and a ball movable on the base and adapted by manipulation of the base to pass from one recess to the other through said passages.

6. In a golf game of the class described, a base having a-plurality of recesses formed therein, tunnels connecting said recesses, said tunnels leading from the end of one recess to the adjacent end of the next adjacent recess whereby said recesses and tunnels provide a tortuous ball conducting passage, a ball movable on the base and adapted by manipulation of the base to pass from one recess to the other through said passages, said recesses respectively havingthe bottom thereof sloping upwardly from a point inwardly from one end of the recess to a point inwardly from the opposite end of the recess. c

7. A game'apparatus comprising in combination a box, a transparent cover for the box, said box having the bottom thereof provided with a plurality of recesses,each of which constitutes a complete hole in a game of golf and embodies a tee, a putting green and afairway' connecting the tee with the putting green and tunnels connecting the putting greens of the recesses with the tees of adjacent recesses to thereby permit passage of a playing element at the completion of one hole to the teerof an adjacent recess for subsequently completing the hole defined bythe last referred to recess, and a ball adapted to travel over the bottom of'the box upon tilting of the box. c

8'. A game apparatus comprisingin combination a box, a transparent cover therefor, I,

and means arranged in each recess in the path of movement of the bell for impeding,

the progress of the ball.

In vtestimony whereof I affix my signature.

- ALFREDGr. RANNEY.'

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